Double-acting internal-combustion engine



Nov. 2l, 1950 R. H. JONES, JR 2,530,970

DOUBLE-ACTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 25, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTOFNEV Nov. 2l, 1950 R, H. JONES, JR 2,530,970

DOUBLE-ACTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 2s, 1949 2sheets-sheet 2 I VEN TOR.

BY d 24 A TTOZAE/ Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDOUBLE-ACTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Claims. 1

This invention relates to gas or Diesel engines of the reciprocatingtype, having one or more cylinders, and its principal object resides inthe provision of a novel cylinder and piston arrangement in which eachcylinder has a ring head on each end and the piston therein is adaptedto be operated in both directions in the cylinder to actuate a crankthrough the medium of a rigid piston rod slidably journalled in one endof the cylinder, and providing means for operating fuel intake andexhaust valves by a crank Wheel connected to the crank.

Another object of the invention is that of providing an economicallyoperated motor, capable of use in driving automobiles, boats, aircraft,or the like, or as a stationary power unit, and afford a light andcompact assembly which may be connected directly to the driven element,such as an air compressor, or the like, and provide a motor having aminimum of operating parts to reduce friction.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the pro- Vision of an internalcombustion engine which is adapted to be constructed so that a fourcycle engine can be provided while employing only two cylinders and asingle piston in each, both pistons operating on a single rigid pistonor connecting rod to rotate a crank wheel and drive shaft.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest las the description proceeds, taken in connection withthe appended drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal cross-Sectional view on lines I-I of Figure 2through the cylinder of the preferred form of the invention showing thedouble acting piston, rigid connecting rod, crank and crank wheel.

Figure 2 illustrates the cylinder in elevation and shows the fuel lines,spark plugs, valve actuating push rods and rocker arms.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the details of the push-rod androcker arm assembly for the lubricating valves.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modification of theinvention, showing a combustion cylinder and piston therein, andillustrating a compressor cylinder and piston, the pistons beingconnected by a single rod.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional illustration through thecylinder and piston, on lines 5--5 of Figure 4, showing the lubricatinginjector device, and

Figure 6 is a face view of the crank wheel of the structure shown inFigure 4, the crank case being fragmentarily shown in section.

Accordingly, the preferred construction, shown in Figures 1 and 2,comprises a cylinder I9 which may be either air or Water cooled, asdesired. The invention is illustrated as equipped with suitable ns IIand I2 formed, respectively, circumferentially of the cylinder l0 ortransversely of the axes of the cylinder heads I3 and I4.

It Will become yapparent that the inner cylinder head lI4 is partiallyenclosed in the crank case I5 Ywhich also houses the crank and crankWheel Il,

both of which will be presently described more fully. The head I4 isformed internally with a boss I8 and a sleeve I9, the latter being shownformed With the inner Wall of the crank case I5.

lThus is provided Ia bore 20 through which a piston rod 2I is slidablyarranged. The piston or connecting rod 2| is rigidly attached at one endto the piston 22 operating in the cylinder I while its opposite end hasa crank pin 23 formed there- 4on and extending at right angles from therod. A plurality of suitable packing rings 24 are arranged in groovesformed on the rod 2l to provide a seal within the bore 2.

A crank 25 is operatively attached to the pin 23 through a non-frictionbearing 26. The crank 25 is shaped with the portion 2l containing thebearing 26 in alignment With the rod 2| and another portion 28 is in aplane parallel to the pin 23. Thus, the arm 29 of the crank 25 is offsetwith respect to the portion 2l although in a plane parallel thereto. Anon-friction bearing 30 is provided for the pin 3l of the crank wheel llwhich comprises a pair of spaced disks separated by the pin 3| and thebearing 30 in the end of the crank 25.

A stub shaft is provided on each side of the wheel Il rotatablysupporting the same. The inner shaft 32 is journalled in a bearing 33supported in a recess formed in the cylinder it within the crank case I5while the outer shaft 34 has a bearing 35 in the outer wall of the crankcase I5 and functions also as a drive or pulley shaft. The crank 25 isstrengthened by an integral web 36 arranged along the side of theright-angular portion 28 and joining the bearing portion 21.

A set of intake and exhaust ports with their valves are arranged in eachof the cylinder heads I3 and I4. The intake port 3l and outlet port 38,in the head I3, are closed by poppet valves 39 and 40, respectively,which are operated by pushrods 4I to actuate the rocker arms 42 and 43.A set of push-rods 4I actuate the intake and exhaust valves 43 and 44,respectively, which close the intake ports 45 and exhaust ports 46 inthe opposite head I4, an arrangement of rocker arms 41 and 88 beingoperatively connected to the valve stems. Fuel lines A9 and 58 areconnected to the cylinder heads I3 and I4 through the intake ports 3l'and 5, and spark plugs 5| are arranged in the heads as is apparent inFigure 2.

The piston 22 is lightened by forming the same with a single Wall 52intermediate its ends. The rod 2| may be threaded into the member 52which has a boss 53 formed therewith. A circumferential groove 512 isdefined about the outer wall of the piston 22 through which the cylinderwalls are lubricated from a duct 55 communicating with the crank caseI5. Oil from the crank case I5 is injected into the cylinder Ill by apiston 55 in a chamber 5'! which has a port opening into the cylinder I8normally closed by a check valve 58.

The piston 58 is actuated by a lug 59 on the crank wheel I'I whichengages the stem 50 of the piston 55 on each revolution, or if morefrequent operation is desired, a plurality of lugs 59 may be provided.The piston 56 is arranged on one side of the cylinder I8 intermediateits ends and the mechanism is timed to inject lubricants into thecylinder I8 at the moment the circumferential groove 54 of the piston 22is aligned therewith.

The oil is discharged from the cylinder I on the opposite side thereofthrough a port 6 I, which has a valve 52 therein, and is conductedthrough a suitable conduit back to the crank case l5. The valve 52 isactuated in proper timing by a rocker arm 63 operatively attached to theoutside of the cylinder I0 and moved by a cam 64 formed on one of thepush-rods 4I.

The push rods 4| and 4I are operated by cams 65 on a cam shaft 58 driventhrough a gear train 61 from the shaft 32 of the crank Wheel I1. Thecams 85 are substantially oval in shape and their operative faces areengaged by the feet 58 on the ends of the push-rods III and as shown inFigures 2 and 3. The rods 4I and 8| are arranged in guides 65 integralwith the cylinder IU.

It is to be observed that the crank case I5 is shaped so that arelatively at or thin portion 'I0 is extended at right angles from oneside and this portion houses the rods 2| and its pin 23 With the bearing25.

An example of the several uses of the invention is illustrated inFigures 4, 5 and 6. Obviously, the motor can be constructed with a pairof cylinders arranged opposite each other, each having identicallydesigned pistons connected by a rigid connecting rod having a drivingconnection with a crank Wheel so that each piston can be operated fromeither end of its respective cylinder, the ring order being so timed asto insure proper function.

In Figure 4 is illustrated, in longitudinal section, a motor embodyingthe features of the invention and having an air compressor attacheddirectly to the piston of the engine. The invention is modified in thisadaptation, as will presently become apparent. In this structure acylinder 7| is provided which is designed very similarly to the cylinderIl) of the structure shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, and has a piston I2operating therein which is also similar to the piston 22, having acircumferential lubricating groove 13. Both ends or heads i4 and 75 ofthe cylinder '1| are equipped with intake and exhaust ports 'I6 and 11with their valves 'I8 and 19. The ports 16 and in one head are arrangedtransversely to those in the opposite head. The head 'I5 has 4rangementdescribed, in the cylinder 1|.

an inner boss 80 and an outer sleeve 8| formed therewith to provide abore 82 and guide for the rigid connecting rod 83 which is secured tothe piston 12 in the same manner as the piston 22 is attached to the rod2|. Packing rings 84 are arranged on the rod 83 in the bore 82 tosealthe cylinder 1I.

The crank case 85 is attached to one end of the cylinder ll and enclosesthe head 'I5 and houses the connecting rod 83 and the crank Wheel 88with its connection to the rod 83. Opposite the cylinder '|I, and on theopposite end of the crank case 85, is a compressor cylinder 8l' having apiston 88 therein connected to the rod 83 opposite the piston 12. Thepiston 88 is formed similar to the pistons 22 and 'I2 but functions onlyas a compressor piston. Both cylinders 'II and B'I have cooling ns 89formed thereon.

The crank wheel 86 is driven by a roller assembly, comprising a pair ofrollers 96 and 9| pivoted to a rotatable disk 92 operatively secured tothe face 93 of the Wheel 8S. The roller assembly is eccentricallyarranged on the wheel 85 and the rollers 98 and 9| thereof are spacedapart to engage both sides of a bar 94 rigidly secured to the rod 83intermediate its ends and transversely thereof. Thus, as the rod 83 isreciprocated the wheel 86 is rotated, the rollers 98 and 9| moving toand fro on the bar 94, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6. Thedisk 92 has a stub shaft 95 which is arranged in a bearing 96 in theWheel 85, the latter having its stub shaft 9'! journalled in bearings 98housed in a bearing box 99 formed with the crank case 85.

The intake and exhaust valves in the head I4 of the cylinder l! areoperated, or opened and closed, by push rods |89 one end of which havefeet IEII engaging cams |82 arranged on a cam shaft |93 journalled ateach end in the crank case 85 and driven by a sprocket chain |812 by thewheel 85 through a sprocket arranged on the shaft 9'! and a sprocket 97on the cam shaft |83. The outer ends of the push rods I 88 engage andoperate rocker arms |85 which are operatively connected to the stems|133 of the valves. The valves in the opposite head l5 are opened bycams El?? on the shaft |83. Obviously, the cams I |12 and |82 should betimed to actuate the valves in proper synchrony with the firing of thecylinder 7|. The cylinder 'II is lubricated from the crank case 85through suitable conduits connected to a port 558 in a side of thecylinder 'a'|, the lubricant being injected by a piston |89 housed in achamber III), as shown in Figure 5, and controlled by a check valve IIE.A return port |52 for the lubricant is also provided and has a checkvalve |I3 therein.

The piston |89 is actuated, in proper synchrony, by a push rod I Illwhich is moved by a cam II5 on one of the push rods I, a rocker arm (notshown) being the medium by which motion is transmitted from the rod H4to the stem H5 of the injector piston |89, as illustrated in Figure 5.The communications from the chamber IIb and the discharge port H2 areseparated by an integral rib Ill formedY on the piston 'l2 andtransversely of the groove '53. h1 this manner the lubricant Will enterthe groove 'i3 and flow around to the discharge port 2, thence back tothe crank case.

The compressor cylinder 81 is lubricated from the crank case through asystem of valves II8 in the side of the cylinder similarly to the ar-The injector piston is operated by a rocker arm and push rod H9 whichhas an operative connection with a cam |29 on the shaft 91 oi the crankwheel. The cam is arranged in the box 99 between the bearings 98. Thecompressor piston 88 may also function to compress air in both ends ofthe cylinder l and the intake and exhaust ports I2I and |22 in one endmust be in transverse arrangement in the opposite end, and suitablecheck valves i23 and 129 are provided.

It is manifest that certain changes and modifications in the structuremay be resorted to from time to time, by persons skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reciprocating type of gasoline engine, in combination, acylinder having intake and exhaust valves in each end, a piston in saidcylinder adapted to be actuated from either end, a rod connected to saidpiston and slidably supported in a bearing forming part of one head ofsaid cylinder, the said rod having a rightangular pin on its endopposite said piston, a crank connected to said pin and having a portionoffset at right angles between its ends, the opposite end of said crankhaving an operative connection to a crank wheel, a crank case enclosingsaid crank and said wheel, valve means providing for lubricating saidcylinder from said crank case, and means actuated by said Wheeloperating said intake and exhaust valves and said lubricating valves.

2. In a gas engine of the reciprocating type, in combination with acylinder and a piston operating therein, an arrangement of intake andexhaust valves in each end of said cylinder whereby said piston isdriven in both directions in said cylinder, a piston rod connected tosaid piston capable oi operation longitudinally of said cylinder andjournalled through one end of said cylinder, a crank pin formed on saidpiston rod and a crank connected to said pin, a crank wheel operativelyassociated with said piston and having a driven connection with theopposite end of said piston rod, a crank case enclosing said crankWheel, means operated by said Wheel providing for lubricating saidcylinder from said crank case, and means operated by said wheelactuating said intake and exhaust valves.

In a gas engine having a double acting piston and a crank wheel, incombination with a cylinder having an intake and exhaust valve in eachend, a piston rod connected to said piston and slidably journalledthrough one end of said piston and having a driven connection with saidcrank Wheel, a crank case enclosing said crank wheel and piston rod,valve controlled means for lubricating said cylinder from said crankcase, and cam means actuated by said crank wheel for operating saidvalve controlled lubricating means and said intake and exhaust valves.

4. In a gas engine having a cylinder and a piston operating thereincapable of being driven in each direction, in combination, a rodconnected to said piston and slidable through one end of said cylinder,a crank case enclosing said rod and a crank wheel having an operativeconnection with said rod in said crank case, fuel intake and exhaustvalves arranged in each end of said cylinder and operating in synchronywith said piston, automatic means for lubricating said cylinder, andmeans actuated by said crank Wheel operating said intake and exhaustvalves and said automatic lubricating means.

5. In a gas engine of the character described having a cylinder and adoubleeacting piston therein, in combination, intake and exhaust valvesarranged in the ends of said cylinder, a piston rod connected to saidpiston and slidably operating through one end of said cylinder, a crankcase enclosing said rod, a crank wheel having a driven connection withsaid rod and arranged in said crank case, means for injecte ing alubricant into said cylinder from said crank case, and means actuated bysaid crank wheel for operating said lubricant injecting means and saidinlet and exhaust valves.

ROBERT H. JONES, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 676,523 Wood June 13, 1901'725,945 Doolittle Apr. 2l, 1903 1,003,127 Shaw Sept. 12, 1911 1,280,801Miller Oct. 8, 1918 1,331,695 Carson Feb. 24, 1920 1,664,150 Augner Mar.27, 1928

